June 7, 2014 6:17 pm

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. — So ends the relentless speculation that designated hitter/first baseman Kendrys Morales might be heading back to the Mariners.

Morales reached a agreement Saturday with the Minnesota Twins valued at roughly $7.6 million for the remainder of the season. The deal was first reported by Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.

The deal is contingent on Morales, 30, passing a physical examination. Official confirmation from the Twins is anticipated once that occurs. The salary represents a pro-rated portion of a $12 million contract.

Because the deal comes after the completion of Major League Baseball’s annual draft, the Mariners will receive no compensation for losing Morales despite tendering a $14.1 million qualifying offer after last season.

Morales will not be subject to a qualifying offer after this season because he won’t have played a full season for the Twins. He batted .277 last season for the Mariners in 156 games with 23 homers and 80 RBIs.

The Twins’ only visit to Safeco Field is July 7-10.

Gillespie heating up

The hottest-hitting Mariner over the last two weeks? Would you believe outfielder Cole Gillespie?

OK, it’s a small sample size, but Gillespie is on an 8-for-17 binge after getting a homer in Saturday’s 7-4 victory over Tampa Bay. His average is up more than 100 points in that span from .217 to .325.

“Anytime you can have consistent at-bats,” he said, “I think any batter is going to feel a little more positive. I wasn’t getting frustrated. I was just waiting for my opportunity.

“If (that opportunity) is now, hopefully I can string together some good ABs, some good games and get some Ws.”

Gillespie’s hot streak comes at a good time. His spot on the roster grew tenuous as his earlier struggles deepened.

The Mariners also signaled a willingness to pursue other options by signing veteran Xavier Nady to a minor-league deal on May 28. Coincidence or not, that Nady signing roughly corresponds with Gillespie’s hot bat.

“I think there was a period, too,” Gillespie said, “when I wasn’t getting in there that much. Sometimes, that has something to do with it. I’m just getting a little more of an opportunity now.

“I’m starting to get in a little bit of a rhythm here.”

Gillespie had two of the Mariners’ five hits in Friday’s 4-0 loss after getting two hits, including an RBI single in Wednesday’s 2-0 victory at Atlanta.

“Sometimes, it’s just positive results,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “You get that one hit, and it can loosen you up and get you going. I think that worked for him.”

Saunders, Smoak sit

Nagging injuries kept outfielder Michael Saunders and first baseman Justin Smoak out of the starting lineup.

Saunders remains characterized as “day to day” after experiencing soreness in his right shoulder on a swing in the fourth inning of Friday’s loss. Smoak has nursed a sore left quadriceps muscle for nearly two weeks.

“It actually felt really good (Friday) in BP and before the game,” Smoak said. “The first at-bat, running down (to first) in the box, leaving the box — it’s not like it’s something crazy. It’s just a little bit of the same.”

Willie Bloomquist replaced Smoak at first base for the second time in three games. Bloomquist went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

“I thought the two days (off) would clean (Smoak) up,” McClendon said, “but he was dragging it really bad (on Friday). So he’s out of there again today.”

Pitching plans

Right-hander Erasmo Ramirez, it appears, will get another chance to hold a spot in the rotation.

The Mariners now list Ramirez as their starter for Monday’s series finale against Tampa Bay after pondering alternatives such as promoting right-hander Matt Palmer from Triple-A Tacoma or having a “bullpen day.”

Ramirez gave up five runs in three innings last Tuesday at Atlanta in his first start since returning from Tacoma and replacing Brandon Maurer in the rotation.

“We talked about making a change,” a club official said. “We talked about it a lot. We’re now thinking we don’t want to make a roster move or mess with our bullpen. Our bullpen has been going pretty good.”

Ramirez is 1-4 with a 6.82 ERA in seven starts.

Defensive improvement

The Mariners are one of majors’ most improved defensive clubs in ratings compiled by John Dewan of The Fielding Bible. But still below average.

Dewan’s calculations project the Mariners to finish the season at minus-8 in defensive runs saved. OK, that’s not good until you consider they finished last season at an atrocious minus-97.

So that’s a plus-89 gain over last season. Dewan’s rule-of-thumb calculation is a club gains a victory for every plus-10 of runs saved.

If true, the Mariners are nine games better this season because of their defense. That, in itself, would be nearly enough to get them to .500 after finishing last season at 71-91.

Short hops

The Rays designated ex-Mariners reliever Josh Lueke for assignment prior to the game in order to recall right-hander Kirby Yates from Triple-A Durham. Lueke was 1-2 with a 5.64 ERA in 25 appearances. He spent 2011 with the Mariners before going to the Rays in a trade for catcher John Jaso…The Mariners’ bullpen, prior to Saturday, had a 1.35 ERA in 21 games since May 14 — or the day after Fernando Rodney blew a one-run lead in a 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay at Safeco Field. Rodney has 7 1/3 scoreless innings in eight appearances since blowing that save…Robinson Cano went 1-for-4 and now has a 16-game road hitting streak…Dustin Ackley had only two RBIs in his previous 16 games before his three-run double in the fifth.

Looking back

It was two years ago Sunday — June 8, 2012 — that Kevin Millwood and five relievers combined for a no-hitter in a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Safeco Field.

Millwood pitched the first six innings before exiting because of a strained right groin. Charlie Furbush, Stephen Pryor, Lucas Luetge, Brandon League and Tom Wilhelmsen closed out the gem.

The Mariners scored their only run on Kyle Seager’s RBI single in the seventh, which scored Ichiro Suzuki from second base. Pryor got his first big-league victory despite walking two of the three batters he faced.

On tap

The Mariners and Rays continue their four-game wraparound series at 10:40 a.m. Pacific time at Tropicana Field. Right-hander Felix Hernandez (8-1 and 2.57) will face Tampa Bay righty Chris Archer (3-3 and 3.73).

Root Sports will carry the game.

The series concludes at 10:10 a.m. Pacific time Monday before the Mariners return to Safeco Field for an eight-game homestand: three against the Yankees, three against the Rangers and two against the Padres.

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About

Bob Dutton joins The News Tribune after more than 25 years at the Kansas City Star, including the last 13 covering baseball and the Royals. He was the president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America in 2008 and serves on the committee that nominates players to the Hall of Fame.

Feeds

Well, that settles that. Hart better come back and produce or the M’s better trade for a significant bat if they want a chance of making the playoffs. Morales came out of this well if he can come in and produce. Gets 7.6 mil for 2/3 of a season and has no penalty tied to him going into free agency.

Not sure if Morales came out well in this deal. I would rather be paid $14 million for one year (the Mariners qualifying offer) rather than $7.6 million for 2/3rds of a season, while being forced into limbo, moving your family, and attempting to fit into a new clubhouse that has already established a culture without you during the 2014 season.

Maybe Scott Boras will come up with the missing $6.4 million for Kendrys?? At least Morales didn’t end up going to Texas.

I’m not 100% sure, but I believe that the M’s could’ve tagged Morales with another qualifying offer after 2014 had he signed the one for this year. If that’s the case, then I would say he came out of this better. He gets 7.6 mil and can go into free agency in 2015 with no penalties attached to him. He certainly came out of the deal okay. playing 2/3 of a season for 7.6 mil certainly isn’t a hardship.

Seems like the move for the M’s would’ve been signing Cruz instead of Morales or Hart.

Except that from what I’ve been able to glean from various online sources Cruz didn’t want to play here, specifically Safeco, a notorious detriment to RH power hitters numbers. I also think Borass once again plays baseball god steering a player away form a team just cuz he can. Morales is ok but hardly a great power threat anyway.

Not sure why the Mariners were not willing to resign Morales at $7.6 million for the remainder of the season?? Seems like a relatively small price to pay for a switch hitter that takes pitches (tires pitchers), and hits for power and average. And also plays a position of need as long as Smoak continues to struggle.

We need a legit bat to truly compete…and one option just disappeared. One that we would not have had to trade assets for.

I think that Borass didn’t like the Mariners trying to get a pick by giving him the qualifying offer. Borass is the worst agent in BB for fans but I understand how players love the guy he gets them fat contracts.

Marlon Byrd might be a guy we could get for some lower level assets, right now he is hitting .264 with an .794 OPS.

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